I will be going to JFK in the near future and am wondering where the best places to spot and photograph planes are? Are there accessible perimeter roads or areas where you can see aircraft taxiing? Thanks for your help.

13 Left / 31 Right:
This runway is mainly used for landings, but you will catch some takeoffs as well. From the Belt Parkway, get off at the exit for Kennedy and Nassau Expressway. Follow the road straight down until you reach Rockaway Blvd.You'll know you're there when it looks more like a street and less like a highway. Make a right at the first light, by the FedEx building. Proceed past the next light (That light is North Boundary Road) and head all the way down. You should be behind a fence which is right behind Runway 13L/31R. To your right should be a few hangars, and to the left there should be a parking lot/unloading building. Sit back and enjoy the view.

Here's a good spot if you have seen Wayne's World. Follow the same directions as above, but by the second light, make a right instead. You will pass some cargo buildings of various airlines, and you will approach an overpass with a traffic light. Make a right at the light, go under the overpass, and continue straight down to the end. Make a left, and drive until you see the flashing lights to the left side of the road. (Be careful! There might be trucks in the area unloading!) Pull over (If you wish) and open the sunroof.

Follow the same directions as the previous tip,but when you get to the overpass,go under it and make a left. The road should form a bend and you will be on top of the overpass. Pull over on the side (There's room for a few cars) and you should have a good (Perfect,with binoculars) view of the threshold of runway 13L.

Runway 22 Right/ 4 Left:
Make a left on North Boundary Road (described above) and go all the way down to the Customs building. There should be a decent view of 22/13 in the parking lot.Make sure to bring binoculars, and don't be surprised if a wingtip passes over the fence!
Contributor: Aileron and spdbird2@aol.com

"For 22L, take the Belt Parkway east, exit Rockaway Blvd, go east no more than 2 miles and you'll see the approach lights for 22L. Simply pull over and watch 'em come in. You are very close to the planes right there.This spot, at Rockaway Blvd, is at the end of the approach lights and just before the fence to the runway so the planes are very very low."
Contributor:

Another tip...

"When driving in via the Van Wyck expressway, go to Terminal 1 (delta). This used to be the PanAm Worldport in the 70's and 80's. You can park on the roof, it's not cheap (like $7.00/hour) BUT.. you can get VERY VERY close to the jets. Now Delta uses 767, L-1011's as their longer range aircraft, but from that point you can eaisaly look out and see the Concord (Air France's) in hardstand (pushed back from the Jetway, but not on the taxiway)."